🔥 make one’s blood boil, to
Definition: To enrage someone.
Historical Context: The phrase “the blood boils” has signified anger since the 17th century. A classic usage can be found in Thomas Macaulay’s History of England (1848): “The thought of such intervention made the blood, even of the Cavaliers, boil in their veins.”
Related Terms
Similar Idioms:
- Blow a fuse: Become very angry or enraged.
- Hit the roof: Suddenly get very angry.
- Fly off the handle: Lose one’s temper suddenly.
- Seeing red: Becoming very angry, often used visually metaphorically.
Proverbs:
- “Anger is one letter short of danger.”
Humor:
- Quote: “Hi. I’m the human personification of the phrase ‘make one’s blood boil’ before coffee.”
Synonyms:
- Enrage
- Infuriate
- Exasperate
- Incense
Antonyms:
- Calm
- Pacify
- Soothe
- Placate
Literary and Media References
Books:
- Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames by Thich Nhat Hanh
Songs:
- “We Will Rock You” by Queen – Perfect for when you imagine stomping it out before literally blowing a fuse.
Movies:
- Anger Management (2003) starring Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson
Inspirational Farewell:
May your quizzical quest for language leave no corner unexplored, and your passion for idioms positively smolder. Remember, knowing how words can make one’s blood boil just means you’re equipped with the ultimate fire extinguisher: wisdom. 🌟
### Which of these phrases means 'to become very angry'?
- [x] Blow a fuse
- [ ] Paint the town red
- [ ] Jump on the bandwagon
- [ ] Fit as a fiddle
> **Explanation:** "Blow a fuse" means to become very angry. The others, while colorful, don’t quite capture that volcanic rage.
### True or False: 'Seeing red' means making a favorable impression.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** False. "Seeing red" refers to becoming very angry, much like a bull charges at a red cape!
### What’s an opposite phrase to 'make one’s blood boil'?
- [ ] Spill the beans
- [ ] Hit the hay
- [ ] Bark up the wrong tree
- [x] Calm before the storm
> **Explanation:** "Calm before the storm" evokes tranquility, quite the opposite of enrage and could be a serene time before potential chaos.
### Which expression doesn't fit with the idea of 'getting angry'?
- [ ] Fly off the handle
- [ ] Hit the roof
- [x] Cool as a cucumber
- [ ] See red
> **Explanation:** "Cool as a cucumber" describes someone who's very calm, unlike the others that refer to getting angry.
### Identify the factual statement about 'make one’s blood boil':
- [ ] It was used first by Shakespeare
- [ ] It suggests a common love for vampires
- [x] It came from a 17th-century idea that blood is linked to temper
- [ ] It has to do with a great fondness for chili peppers
> **Explanation:** The expression hails from the 17th-century notion that our blood is inherently linked to our tempers and emotions.
